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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Revival spurs spiritual renewal at FBC Natchitoches

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – Nearly 400 members and guests of First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, sought reconciliation and laid down their own idols during a recent four-day Thirst Revival Conference. Hosted by Niles, Michigan-based Life Action Ministries, the gathering featured nightly messages on the need to trust in God even in the hard seasons of life, removing idols, dangers of bitterness and examination of one’s own love for the Lord, himself and others. The conference also included high-energy music, children’s programming and a women’s luncheon led entirely by Life Action’s ministry team. In the end, the church came away more unified and ready for God’s next step in their lives. Tommy Rush, senior pastor of FBCN, told the Baptist Message that every night entire families filled the altar and others gathered in pews as they sought reconciliation and offered long-overdue encouragement. “It was more of a focus on being refreshed and restoring relationships in our family and church,” FBCN Senior Pastor Tommy Rush told the Baptist Message. “Sometimes you don’t realize how hungry people in the church are to restore broken relationships. “The revival focused a lot … [Read more...]

LBCHFM celebrates opening of regional compassion center

By Baptist Message staff MONROE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has opened a center that will provide the hope of Christ to those in one of the nation’s poorest regions. Supporters gathered April 10 for a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the Compassion Center, located at 501 Kansas Lane on the campus of the LBCHFM. Approved by entity's trustees during its May 12, 2023 meeting, the 15,000-sq.-ft. facility will provide food, school supplies, diapers, shoes, new clothing and other life essentials. Matt Hancock, executive director with Compassion for Kids, a LBCHFM ministry that will operate the Compassion Center, told the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting that the facility should serve 25,000-30,000 individuals a year. According to the 2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey, 34.9 percent of Monroe residents live at the poverty level. “Luckily, all the time at the Children’s Home we ask the question, ‘Lord, where are the children and families who need us,’ and we don’t have to look very far for the answer,” Hancock told the crowd “It’s right here in our community, and it’s all across the state. So, the Compassion Center will be here to meet physical needs, … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist pastor, Shane Wiggins, arrested

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Shane Wiggins, pastor of Baldwin Baptist Mission Church, Baldwin, Louisiana, was arrested, April 9, on charges of rape and molestation. Wiggins has been with the Baldwin congregation, a mission of Little Pass Baptist Church in Charenton, Louisiana, since March 2015. According to the police department of Morgan City, Louisiana, Wiggins was arrested in Paris, Texas, and faces extradition. The MCPD reported via Facebook, April 9, that Wiggins has been under investigation since December 17, 2024, when a mother of a child filed a complaint, accusing Wiggins of inappropriate behavior with the juvenile. Recently, unable to contact Wiggins at his residence or by phone, MCPD detectives suspected he had left the state. Police did not report why they believed Wiggins was in Paris, Texas, but that was where they focused their search in collaboration with the Lamar County Sheriff’s and Paris Police Departments. Wiggins was arrested while driving in Paris and is now detained in the Lamar County Jail in Paris. … [Read more...]

Crusade bears fruit for FBC Denham Springs: 55 baptisms in one day

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – A celebration of 1,300 decisions for Christ at the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade continued for First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, when it baptized 55 individuals on March 30 – the most ever on a single day for the congregation. “It was beyond our expectations, that’s for sure,” FBCDS Pastor Leo Miller told the Baptist Message. “We were anticipating maybe 40-45 before the service began, but we ended up having many more, so it was pretty neat. People throughout the crusade have been excited to see God on the move and this was another way for our congregation to express their appreciation and gratitude to the Lord with more applause and worship.” BACKGROUND The baptisms came two weeks after the crusade, held March 16-19 in the Denham Springs High School football stadium. The four-day spiritual encounter, including all related out­side events, yielded 1,316 persons decisions for Jesus, with 602 individ­uals stepping forward to accept Christ. Miller and other Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association pastors and leaders shared that they prayed and prepared for more than a year with anticipation of a mighty harvest during the crusade … [Read more...]

New Life Pregnancy Center schedules April 5 gala

By Baptist Message staff MAMOU, La. (LBM) - Pro-life supporters will take a step “back into the 1920s” during the upcoming New Life Pregnancy Center Gala, April 5. The largest fundraiser of the year for the pregnancy center will feature music and food from that era and all who come will be encouraged to dress in attire from that decade. This event also will include Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg, event emcee Michaella Fontenot, a testimony by a NLPC client, special music, and updates about how God has used this ministry to help serve “moms in need” so they can experience healthy pregnancies. Connie Landreneau, a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Eunice and a board member, said the banquet is one way those from various denominations will come together for one common cause. “It's amazing to see the help from the community, and it’s wonderful to have them step up and say, ‘I want to help, I want to volunteer, I want to donate to the dinner,’ because it takes a giving heart,” she said. “It takes a servant’s heart to do what we all do together, and it takes a team. And I’m very grateful for the team that we’ve put together to save these babies. We’re very, very grateful that God has put us in that position to do … [Read more...]

FIRST PERSON: The LBC does not oppose Amendment 2

By Will Hall, director, LBC Office of Public Policy, and executive editor, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists saw a 19 percent jump in baptisms in 2022 and a 31 percent surge on top of that in 2023. Last week, many Louisiana Baptists took part in the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade and witnessed more than 1,300 spiritual decisions -- with at least 602 new believers who are counted among that number. Moreover, there are similar evangelistic events planned around the state in 2025 as Louisiana Baptists commit to establish a culture of soul winning in our state. However, this week, all of that has been overshadowed in some circles because of the poor decision by a few individuals to wrongly characterize, or otherwise allow the wrong perception, that “Louisiana Baptists” oppose Amendment 2, a tax reform measure which is on the statewide March 29 ballot. Unfortunately, their misdirection on this issue involves a video clip of my testimony before the Senate Committee on Revenue & Fiscal Affairs regarding HB 7 (which removes language from the Constitution pertaining to property tax exemptions for ministries and nonprofits) and HB 11 (which transfers the exact same language to the statutes … [Read more...]

Johnston, former US Senator and member of First Baptist Shreveport, dies at 92

By Baptist Message staff MCLEAN, Va. (LBM) – J. Bennett Johnston, a U.S. senator who represented Louisiana for 24 years and a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Shreveport, died at a hospital in McLean, Virginia, March 25, from complications related to COVID-19. He was 92. Johnston served as a state representative and senator for eight years combined and U.S. senator for another 24 years. According to his obituary, Johnston was a “conservative Democrat known for working across the aisle, sometimes voting with Republicans when he thought it would serve his state. Johnston helped drive the creation of Interstate 49, brought money into the state to help protect wetlands (including helping establish two national parks and seven wildlife refuges), and in 1990, made national headlines when he defeated Ku Klux Klansman David Duke in that year's Senate race.” According to Lauren Ostendorff, a church secretary and long-time member of FBCS, Johnston joined the church in 1943 and was still a non-resident member when he died. He remained active in the church while practicing law in Shreveport and preparing to enter his first term as a U.S. senator. He served the congregation as a member of the board of directors, as did his … [Read more...]